The Pittsburgh Steelers invested plenty in veteran leadership this offseason. It’s a wonder that the Steelers don’t carry the oldest roster in the NFL.
Considering the team is 3-1, for the most part, it’s paying off. A lot of that has to do with the oldest player on the roster, quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The 41-year-old looks to be giving Father Time a run for his money, seeing as Rodgers seems to be the least of the team’s worries.
But, unfortunately not every weathered veteran is standing up to Father Time in the same manner.
Darius Slay’s early-season numbers raise concerns for the Pittsburgh Steelers
Veteran cornerback Darius Slay isn’t having the kind of season he might have hoped at age 34. After years of elite play for the Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles, he signed a one-year contract this offseason to join the Steelers’ defense, expecting to be a contributor to its success.
Instead, Slay has often found himself as the weak link in the defensive backfield.
According to Pro Football Reference's advanced statistics, Slay has allowed 77.8% of passes in his coverage area while allowing a quarterback rating of 118.1. Both are career lows since PFR began tracking these stats in 2018. For comparison, Slay’s coverage numbers practically mirror Patrick Queen’s.
Slay’s struggles are doubly concerning since Joey Porter Jr. has missed most of the season due to injury, and since Jalen Ramsey primarily plays in the slot, Slay has effectively been the No. 1 cornerback. Unfortunately, he hasn’t played like the No. 1 corner he once was.
Slay has just two pass deflections, and is the only corner who has played in all four games without an interception, excluding James Pierre, who nearly had one against Minnesota and otherwise primarily plays special teams.
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For what it’s worth, this isn’t the first slow start for Slay, nor is it the first time he’s faced questions about losing a step. His first season in Philly was his worst statistically in the five years he spent there. Even last year, which wasn’t his best work either, he still logged the lowest completion rate in his coverage area since 2018.
Slay’s struggles could very well stem from the injuries around him, coupled with the new environment. They could also simply be the realities of playing on the outside at 34 years of age.
Either way, four games aren’t enough to write off Slay for the remainder of the season. Hopefully, after the bye week and the return of Porter to the lineup will help him get settled more comfortably.